“The place really needed it. It’s sad that they don’t have a police station,” she told MLive.com while raking up debris. “The crime went up, so we’re here to fix it up and make sure that they do end up having a police force.”

The former precinct, located at Grand River Ave. and McNichols Road on the city’s west side, was in complete disarray with smashed windows and debris everywhere you look.

“Our goal is to have this re-established as a precinct,” said John J. George, Blight Busters founder and president. “What we want is for Meijer, the city and the state to figure out how do we renovate this and bring our police officers home. That’s the goal.”

In 2011, Grand Rapids based mega-market chain Meijer was approved for a brownfield tax credit valued at up to $3.3 million to redevelop the old Redford High School site, which is across the street from the former station.

George said the police officers were the “heart of this community” and since the station closed, crime has increased.

Ghida Dagher, a spokeswoman for ACCESS, said the cleanup is the first step in letting city officials know that the station should reopen.

"Detroit’s been hit economically, it has a lot of pressures,” she said. “So it was important for us to come out here."

Dagher said officials have been organizing the event since November-December as part of the 9th annual National Arab American Service Day, which includes about 2,000 Arab Americans and others in 12 communities across the U.S. volunteering.

The cleanup was also part of the three organizations’ “Making Grand River Grand Again” program, which aims to rehab properties and facilities along Grand River Ave.

“We must have protection and cleanliness in Detroit,” George said.

The cleanup started at 10 a.m. and continued through the early afternoon.